MUA Power Pout Lip Crayon in 'Rendezvous'

I'm definitely late to the party when it comes to lip crayons. I never really caught on to them until recently but, as they say, better late than never.  I jetted away on holiday earlier this year and I really wanted a subtle balm to pop on in the daytime - not only for a splash of colour to brighten up my makeup-less face but also to keep my lips hydrated through the day. I picked up a few magazines in the airport and one of the freebies happened to be a pink lip crayon - in all honesty I didn't think I would use it much but but it quickly became my go-to beach bag beauty staple and I was rather sad when I realised I'd lost it towards the end of the holiday.  So, when I got home, I set out to find a similar version on a budget.  Enter the MUA Power Pout Crayon - a cheap and cheerful addition to my daily makeup bag that's become quite the life-saver when it comes to effortless, everyday makeup.

As I'm currently on placement, I really don't want to look unprofessional at my desk slicking on the lippie every 5 minutes (as tempting as it is!) I've found this to be the perfect companion to keep in my handbag under my desk as it looks just like a lip balm but provides instant colour pay off too.  I don't need to use a mirror because the shade is fairly neutral and the shape means that it's easy to get an even finish without the need to spend time applying it - it's literally just a quick swipe and I'm done. The glossy, slightly sheer finish also adds to its effortless appeal and it's also quite moisturising to apply so it doubles up as a balm. Wear time is quite good for a lip crayon - the pigmentation is really impressive (there's no need to build it up in layers) and the glossy finish lasts for quite some time.  After about an hour, it fades but it leaves a lovely, subtle stain. 'Rendezvous' is a pretty, pinky-brown nude shade - very elegant, classy and girly. I've found that when it wears off to a stain it gets a little brighter, which is quite strange, but nice nonetheless as it still leaves some colour behind even after its worn off.  It's also great that you can twist the bottom of the crayon to get more product once you've worn it down a little - a lot of crayons I've seen actually don't contain a lot of product but this one seems to be quite good value for money.  The subtle minty smell is also a nice addition as it feels quite refreshing to apply.

Overall, a fabulous product from MUA. Although I haven't tried a lot of lip crayons, I've swatched my fair share in store and I've had a look at some of the higher-end brands in the past - I have to say, MUA have hit the nail on the head when it comes to pigmentation and finish and the packaging is just as good.  I really don't think you need to splash the cash on lip crayons when you can find gems like this for a fraction of the price.  You can find the MUA lip crayons in Superdrug stores and also online here and here - retailing at just £3.00. I'm really excited to pick up some of the darker shades for autumn/winter - there's a gorgeous berry red shade that's just perfect for the upcoming colder months.

Have you tried the MUA lip crayons? What's your favourite lip crayon? I'm looking to grab a few more!